Automatic air-brake-releasing mechanism



May 27 w24.

' D. c. HEsslAN AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE RELEASING MECHANISM.

Filed Dec. l8v, 1922 2 sheets-sneer 2 Patented May 27, 1924.

unirse Dnivns c. AHEI-seran', or DETROIT,

Application filedA lDecel'nber i To @ZZ wiz'om'it may concern:

vupon failure of the triplevalve to worlnrtor' automatically actuating the release valve to reduce the pressureY of air in the auxiliary reservoir so as to permit the increased or built-up airv pressure in the main pipe or conduit to force the mechanism of the triple valve to normal position and permit the air in the brake cylinder to escape, whereupon the brake mechanism will be able to release the brakes. 7

Another object is to provide simple andi effective means tor regulating the forward move'nent of the pneumatically operated means so that the release valve will not be operated until after the triple valve has had an opportunity to operate.A

lVith the above and otherobj'ects in view, the invention consists of certain novelifeatures ot construction, combination and arrangement of parts, asr willl be morey fully described and particularly pointed out'in the appended claims. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the usual brake apparatus of a car having parts broken away and in section and showing my invention applied thereto Figure 2 isv an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the .auxiliary 'reservoir andv through the cylinder thereon showing the release valve and actuatingneans therefor' in elevation and showing the piston in normal position;v

lFigure is a view' similar to Figure 2 butshowing` the* arm extending beyond the rocker ot the release valve;

Figure' 4 'is'an'en'larged sectionalview ot' thel release valve and showing the arm in position to actuate the rocker of the valve;

Figure is afragrnentary top plan view et' my invention, Y

AUTOMATIC AIR-BRaKE-nnnnesns atmosphere.

Mrcirrsiinf mecanicista.

1s, 1922', seriai nef 607,717.

lteierringnow to the drawings in which 'likecharacters oi. reference designate corresponding 'parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates a triplev valve which may be either a quick action triple valve as shown or a plain triple valve and which controls first, the passage of air under pressure from the main train supply y pipe or conduit 2 to an auxiliary reservoir" 3; second, 'the passage of air under pressure from the auxiliary reservoir to the brake cylinder 4 which encloses the brake actati' ing mechanism, designated generallyl by the numeral' 4L and third, the passage of airA under pressure from the brake:V cylinder to the' atmosphere. The main train pipe' V2 receives .its supply of air under pressure from `a main reservoir not shown)` in communi- V cation with suitable air pumps (not'shown)V and the supply of air to the train pipe/nis controlled by means ot a suitable valve (not shown) which is usually located in the! cab ot an engine and which also controlsthe" passageot air from the train 'pipe 2 toy the Normally the pressures of air are es ual in the train pipe and in the auXill iary reservoir so that as soon as .any reduction of pressure is made in the train pipe; asa result of the operation of the valve in the cab to permit the passage of air from the train pi-peto the vatmosphere or from other causes, the pressure of air in the auXil iary reservoir will 'be greater than that in the'tra'in nipe,"consequently the piston' 5 and slide 6 ot' the triple valve will be moved ott of their respective seats to permit air from the auxiliary reservoir to pass into the brake cylinder and actuate the `brake 'mechanism to seat the'brakes.

The pressure ot air in the train pipe willv inc-reaseor'build up rapidly after a reduction of pressure has been made. consequently the piston 5 and vslide 6 'of the triple valve will be forced to normal position'whereupon the air from the brake cylinder will be per y mitted to escape to theatmosphere andthe airunder pressure in the train pipe will be permitted to pass into the auxiliary reservoir 3 1so' that the pressures upon opposite sides of the piston 5 ofthe triple valve will be equalized.

However, it is kno-wn that'at various" times, due to different causes, the triple valve fails' to work sowas to permit the air under pressure vin the brake cylinder to escape to the atmosphere, consequently,- the` brake mechanism will not be able to operate to release the brakes when set. Usually, whenever' a triple valve fails to work, a release valve upon the auxiliary reservoir 3 is operated manually to reduce the pressure ot air in the auxiliary reservoir, conse quentlv, the built-up pressure in the train pipe 'will torce the triple valve to operate to cut oit' conmuinication between the auxiliary reservoir and the brake cylinder and to discharge the air from the brake cylinder whereby the brake mechanism will be able to operate.

Considerable damage is apt to occur to the equipment should the brakes of any oar ol' a train be locked and often times trainnien have considerable difficulty in locating the cause of the trouble. This is especially true in so tar long trains are concerned in which case it is necessary Jfor trainmen to walk alongthe track to get to the car having the locked b akes so as to operate the release valve Yto bleed the auxiliary reservoir.

With my improved construction, should a triple valve tail to work when it is desired to release the brakes, the pressure of air in the auxiliary reservoir will be reduced automatically, with the result that the brakes can be released. ln detail, an auxiliary cylinder 8 is mounted on the auxiliary reservoir 3 and is provided with a stutling box 9 which surrounds the stem 10 ot a piston 11 in the cylinder 8. The outer end of" the stem is rigidly secured to a downwardly projecting extension 12 of a horizontal bar 13 slidably mounted on the cylinder 8. A suitable U-sliaped bracket 13 is mounted upon the cylinder 8 and is adapted to guide the bar. An arm 14, constructed of spring metal is rigidly secured to the bar at the forward end thereof and is provided with a forwardly and outwardly extending' vertical off-set portion 15 which is adapted to engage one side of an arm 16 of the rocker 17 upon the stem 18 of the release valve and to move the said arm 16" inwardly and thereby cause the valve proper 20 to be unseated.

Compressed air is used for moving` the piston 11 forward and is conveyed trom the train pipe 2 to the rear end ot the Cylinder 8 by means ot a suitable conduit 21. Compressed air is also conveyed from the auxiliary reservoir 3 to the forward end of the cylinder 8 by means of a short conduit 22. In view oit the tact the pressures ot air in the train pipe and in the auxiliary reservoir normally are equal, it is apparent that the pressures upon opposite sides of' the piston 11 normally are equal. However, the conduit 21 is preferably provided with a removable fitting 21 which has restricted passage 22 for the purpose of retaldillg the supply of air from the train pipe to the cylinder 8 so as to give the triple valve an opportunity to work each time it is desired to release the brakes. A coil spring 23, ot' predetermined weight, is located in the cylinder 8 and is adapted to cooperate with the compressed air admitted through the restricted passage 21 to the cylinder 8 to retard the forward move ment ot the piston 11 betere the brakes are released and to cooperate with the com.- pressed air admitted through the short couduit 22 to return the piston 11 to normal position utter the brakes have been released.

lVhen a reduction ot pressure'is nitide in the train pi ae 2 the pressure ot air iu the auxiliary reservoir 3 is greater than that in the train pipe, consequently, the piston 11 will remain in its normal position and the piston 5 and cylinder 6 of the triple valve will move to permit air under pressure from tlieiauxiliary reservoir to be admitted to the brake cylinder to actuate the brake mechanism to vset the`brakes. Vlhen the brakes are set, the pressiues ot air upon opposite sides of the triple valve are equal so that when an increase o't pressure is made inthe train pipe, the triple valve will usually operate to discharge the air 'from the brake cylinder and thus permit the brake mechanism to operate so as to release the brakes. Alllhen it is desired to release the brakes the built-up or increased pressure ot air in the train pipeY will be supplied to the cylinder 8 through the conduit 21, but the restricted passage 21 will retard this supply ot air so that the triple valve will have a chance to operate in the usual manner under increased pres sure from the train pipe lShould the triple valve then Jfail towork, the increased pressure of air will torce the piston 11 and bar 13 forwardly which will cause the ofl set portion ot the arm 14A to move the arnii 16 ot the rocker 18 and cause the release valve proper 20 to be unseated, whereupon air under pressure in the auxiliary reservoir will be permitted to escapo to the atmosphere. The. pressure ot air in the train pipe will then 'torce the pistou and slidel 6 oit the triple valve to their r )ective normal positions whereuprm the air in the brake cylinder 4; will be :ble to escape through the triple valve to the atmosphere and the air under pressure in the train pipe will be admitted to the auxiliary reservoir 3 and to the cylinder 8. The piston 11. bar 13 and arm 14 will then be' moved to their respective normal positionsy as a result of the` combined force of the spring and air under pressure admitted to the ncylinder 8 through the short conduit lllhen the arm 14 moved rearwardly the oil-set portion thereof is adapted to engage the opposite side of the arm 16 and to yield slightl".v While passing the same. l

While it is believed that froml the (foregoing description, thel nature and advantages of the invention will bereadily apparent, `I desire to have it understood that' I" do not limit myselitl toivliat ish'ereinshown and described, and.A that such changes may be resorted to when desired, as fall Within the scope of what is claimed.

i I'Vliat I claimA as my invention is:

l. In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuating mechanismtherein,` ani auxiliary' reservoir for supplying air under pressure to said brake cylinder-tofoperate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, means for controlling the passage oi' air from `said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and `from saidauxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder, said controlling means valso being adapted toeXhaust the air from said brake cylinder, and manually operated means for bleeding' said auX- iliary reservoir, of' pneumatically operated means operable upon failureof said `controlling means to'work, for automatically actuating said bleeding means' to permit the pressure yof air in said conduit4 to `force said controlling means to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby said, brake mechanismwill be Ipermitted to operate. Y

' 2.,*In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder,brale actuating mechanism therein, an i auxiliary reservoir for, supplying Yair under pressure to said brake, cylinder to operate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, atriple valve'for controlling lthe passage of'air from saidlconduit to said auxiliaryA reservoir andfrom said auizilia'ry reservoir to: said` brake cylinder,l said triple valve also being adapted to eX- nism has operated.

' 3.v In an Vair brake system, the combinaf tion with' a brake cylinder, brakeatuating mechanism, therein auxiliary reservoir for Supplying 'aii under. 'pressure to ,Said brakev cylinder'to' operate saidlfinechanisni, @wenn 'comici/atar .aan if@ trolling the passag'eof airfrom' said?,CrQIlfllly to said auxiliary reservoir and from vsaid auxiliary .ifesrerypirw to',v saidv brake' cylinder,

membercarried by said bar and adapted *toA engagev saidfactuating means to operatesaid release,v valve, and pneumatically operated means ,operable upon failure 'of said triple -valve to Work,V for automatically moving said bar and cau'singsraid yieldable member tok operate saidV release valve' to permit the pressure o'f'air in saidconduit to force said triple valve toC cutwoifV the iow of air from 'said' auxiliary reservoir to saidbrale cylinder, and'toexhaust the air 'from said brake cylinderwvhereby saidfbrake mechanism Will be permitted to' operate. 4

Inan air brake system, the combination With' al'brake'cylinder, brake actuating mechanism. therein, anV auxiliary reservoir for"supplying-l air underjpressure to Vsaid brake cylinder to operate 'said mechanism, an fair supply conduit, a triple valve'v for controllingthe passageof air from said conduit to said `auxiliary`reservoir and from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylin-l der, saiditriple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air fromsaid brake lcylindena release valve for bleedingsaid Y'auxiliary reservoir, and actuating meansfor saidrelease valve, of a reciprocatory bar, a'yieldable arm carried by said bar and adapted to engage said actuating'means to Voperate saidfrelease valve, pneumatically operated means operable'upon rfailure of said triple valve to Work, for nautomatically moving saill barto cause said arm to operate said re! leasevalve so' to permit thepressure of airin, said'conduit to force said triple valve to`cut voff the iioyv of air from said auXi'll iaryfreservoirto saidbrake cylinder andfto exhaustJ the air Vfrom said brake cylinder wher jsaidlbralte' mechanism will per mitten ltofoperate, andV means for moving sai'dbartovnorinal position. Y Y ""5, Inanair brake system, the combination Withfa brake cylinder, brake ac'tuatii'ig mech anism tlierein, an auxiliary reservoir `for supplying airuiider pressure to said brake cylindertooperatesaid mechanism, an airi'supply y conduit,l a triple valvel for controlling the passage.o trairy from said conduit'to said aux#y ili'aryreservoiif id from'said auiziliary resev in toN said brake cylindeigfsaid"triple v e 'also being adaptedto` exhaust the air from saidlbrale cylinder, a release .valve'pfor bleediIi'gvsaid'l auxiliary reservoir, and, actuat ing `means formsaid release valve,l of. aY recip-V roeatory b'aigja yiel'dablefarmy having an opti"- s'etfpoitionladapted to engage said actuat- 'iiigm dans'to operate said "release valve, pneuinatically operated Inevans'operable upon failureofsaid triplevalve to, Work, for lautoili-.itally` mQvinaSa-dibef and Causing the oi'f'setqportion'o; said. armv cooperate said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir and permit the pressure of air in said conduit to force said triple valve to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby saidy brake mechanism will be permitted to operate, and means for automatically moving said bar to normal position to permit said release valve to return to normal position.

6. In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuatingmechanism therein, an auxiliary reservoir Jfor supplying air under pressure to said brake cylinder to operate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, a triple valve for controlling the passage of air from said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder, said triple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder, a release Valve Jfor bleeding said auxiliary reservoir and actuating means for said release valve, of a bar, a member carried by said bar and adapted to engage said actuating means to operate said release valve, guide means for said bar, pneur matically operated means operable upon failure of said triple Valve to work, for automatically actuating said bar and causing said member to operate said release Valve to permit the pressure or" air in said conduit to force said triple valve to exhaust the air 'from said brake cylinder whereby said brake mechanism will be permitted to operate.

7. In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuating mechanism therein, an auxiliary reservoir Jfor supplying air under pressure to said brake cylinder to operate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, a triple valve for controlling the passage of air from said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder, said triple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air Jfrom said brake cylinder, a release Valve `for bleeding said auxiliary reservoir and actuating means for said release valve, of an auxiliary cylinder, a piston in said auxiliary cylinder, a bar connected to said piston, a member carried by said bar and adapted to engage said actuating means `to operate said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to said auxiliary cylinder to move said piston and cause said member to operate said release valve to permit the pressure of air in said conduit to force said triple valve to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby said brake mechanism will be permitted to operate.

8. In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuating mechanism therein, an auxiliary reservoirr for supplying air under pressure to said brake cylinder to operator said mechanism, an air supply conduit, a triple valve for controlling the passage of air from said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and from saidr auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder, said triple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder, a release valve upon said auxiliary reservoir, and means for actuating said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, kof an auxiliary cylinder, a piston in said auxiliary cylinder, a bar connected to said piston, a member carried by said bar and adapted to engage said actuating means to operate said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to said auxiliary cylinder to move said piston and, cause said member to operate said release valve to permit the pressure of air in said conduit to force said triple valve to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby said brake mechanism will be permitted to operate, and means for retarding the movement of said piston to prevent said member from operating said release valve until after said triple valve has had an opportunity to work.

9. ln an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuating mechanism therein, an auxiliary reservoir for supplying air under pressure to said bralre cylinder to operate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, a triple Valve for controlling the passage of air from said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder, said triple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air Jfrom said brake cylinder, a release valve upon said auxiliary reservoir, and means for actuating said release Valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, of an auxiliary cylinder, a piston in said auxiliary cylinder, a bar connected to said piston, a yieldable member secured to said bar and adapted to engage said actuating means for operating said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure to said auxiliary cylinder to move said piston and cause said yieldable member to operate said release Valve to permit the pressure of air in said conduit to force said triple valve to cut oit the flow or air from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder and to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby said brake mechanism will be permitted to operate, a connection between said auxiliary reservoir and said auxiliary cylinder for supplying air under pressure from said auxiliary reservo-ir to said auxiliary cylinder, and yieldable means adapted to cooperate with the air supplied to said auxiliary cylinder through said connection for returning said piston and bar to normal position.

l0. In an air brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, brake actuating mechanism therein, an auxiliary reserlOl) voir for supplying air under pressure to said brake cylinder t0 operate said mechanism, an air supply conduit, a triple valve for controlling the passage of air from said conduit to said auxiliary reservoir and from said auxiliary reservoir to said brake cylinder,fsaid triple valve also being adapted to exhaust the air from said brake Cylinder, a release valve for bleeding said auxiliary reservoir, and actuating means for said release valve, of an auxiliary cylinder upon said auxiliary reservoir, a piston in said auxiliary cylinder, a bar connected to said piston, a member carried by said bar and adaptedto engage said actuatingV means to operate said release valve to bleed said auxiliary reservoir, a restricted passage Jfor supplying air under pressure from said air supply conduit to one end of said auxiliary cylinder to move said piston and cause said member to operate said release valve, bleed said auxiliary reservoir and to permit the pressure of air in said conduit to force said triple valve to exhaust the air from said brake cylinder whereby said ybrake mechanism Will be permitted to operate, means for supplying airunder pressure from said auxiliary reservoir to said auxiliary cylinder, and yieldable means adapted te cooperate With the air admitted to said auxn iliary cylinder through said restricted passage for retarding movement of said piston so as to give the triple valve an opportunity to Work before operating said re lease valve, said yieldable means being also adapted to cooperate with the last-mentioned air supply means for returning said piston to normal position. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

DENNIS C. HESSIAN. 

